The Learning & Development Podcast - podcast cover

The Learning & Development Podcast

David Jameswww.looop.co

The Learning & Development Podcast is a fortnightly topical podcast show for L&D professionals hosted by David James and presented by 360Learning.

In each episode David James discusses and debates topics affecting the profession alongside expert guests.  David is the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and a highly respected voice in the Learning & Development industry. With a focus on harnessing technology to drive impactful learning strategies, David is recognised as one of the top 10 global influencers in the L&D space. His expertise lies in helping organisations modernise their approach to workplace learning, ensuring measurable results and business alignment.

The Learning & Development Podcast has amassed over 500,000 downloads and ranks in the top 1% of podcasts globally. With nearly 30,000 LinkedIn followers, David continues to shape the conversation around L&D innovation and best practices, drawing on his deep experience, including his time as Director of Learning, Talent & Organisational Development at The Walt Disney Company.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.360learning.com/

Episodes

Where Are We At With Generative AI in L&D? with Egle Vinauskaite

Without a doubt, generative AI dominated the conversation, not only in L&D but in wider business and politics - and it’s not going away. So where are we now in terms of advancement, adoption, and application? These are important questions explored with Egle Vinauskaite in this episode, presented by 360Learning. KEY TAKEAWAYS Most L&D departments have not yet fully integrated AI. Around 30% have tried it and decided not to use it. AI is coming, if you don´t keep experimenting with it, you...

Feb 06, 202435 minSeason 2Ep. 27

Leadership Development At Netflix With Kenny Temowo

It was clear that one podcast episode wouldn’t be enough to cover everything we wanted to so Kenny’s back to unpack what leadership development at Netflix means and what it’s there to achieve. This conversation is both revealing and inspiring. KEY TAKEAWAYS There are universal leadership principles that apply to any industry. However, each leadership role is still different. Context is crucial in developing effective leaders. First, understand the business impact solving the problem is going to ...

Jan 23, 202444 minSeason 2Ep. 26

Starting Out in L&D Today With John Hinchliffe

Like so many professions, Learning & Development is evolving and transforming fast. Starting out in the profession had a standard path just a short while ago but expectations and technological advances have been catalysts for great change. In this episode, presented by 360Learning , John and David explore what it takes now to start out - and grow a career - in L&D. KEY TAKEAWAYS In the past, L&D professionals were created mainly in the classroom. Technology has changed the way people...

Jan 09, 202441 minSeason 2Ep. 25

The Insightful Innovator with Danny Seals

Want to know how to level up your employee experience using design thinking? Want a no-nonsense approach to designing people-centred products, services, and experience? Well, Danny Seals has written the book on these and tells us all about it in this episode. KEY TAKEAWAYS Levelling up your employee experience has never been more important. Examine the problem properly, don´t simply go with what you think the issue is. Use the ladder technique that Danny shares in this episode. People need to st...

Dec 12, 202345 minSeason 2Ep. 24

Performance-Oriented Soft Skills Development with Guy Wallace

Do we need to concede that we’ll never be able to accurately measure the impact of our soft skills development solutions? If so, that’s an enormous amount of spending without knowing if we’re making enough of a difference. In this episode, we discuss how it is possible to plan, design and deliver for real impact and how this is already working. KEY TAKEAWAYS Tell people upfront how what they learn applies to their job. Use proprietary internal knowhow to plug content gaps. Have people practice w...

Nov 28, 20231 hr 3 minSeason 2Ep. 23

L&D At Netflix With Kenny Temowo

What’s it like to lead L&D at one of the world’s most renowned and successful companies? Netflix has grown into an international powerhouse of home entertainment and is almost as famous for its people practices as its product. In this episode we lift the lid on L&D at Netflix and explore what development looks like at this aspirational and ambitious brand. KEY TAKEAWAYS The culture informs everything Netflix does. Netflix takes a different approach to performance management. At Netflix t...

Nov 14, 202349 minSeason 2Ep. 22

Skills-based Learning With Gabe Gloege

Skills-based approaches to organisations, the workforce and development are gaining in prominence. This is hardly a surprise when one of the biggest problems across entire industries and economies is the growing skills gap. So a skills-based approach is aimed at meeting these problems head-on. In this episode, we explore what this all means for L&D and our stakeholders and how we get involved. KEY TAKEAWAYS A skills-based organization organises a lot of their work and talent structures aroun...

Oct 31, 202345 minSeason 2Ep. 21

How ChatGPT Can Supercharge Your L&D With Ross Stevenson

Without doubt, 2023 has been dominated by AI. Whether it’s through fear, anxiety, excitement or over-exposure, generative AI - and most prominently ChatGPT - has been at the forefront of thinking, development and investment as the world rushes to catch up with this emergent technology. But what could it mean for L&D? According to Ross Stevenson, quite a lot. Listen as Ross shares his exhaustive exploration of this technology and tells us how we can be benefitting today. KEY TAKEAWAYS ChatGPT...

Oct 16, 20231 hrSeason 2Ep. 20

CIPD's Learning at Work Report With Laura Overton

The latest CIPD report on the Learning & Development profession is both revealing and inspiring. L&D practitioners and leaders have had a huge amount to deal with, in recent years, with many using circumstances to make radical changes. For others, not so much. So, what does this all mean and what do we need to do about it? In this conversation, we unpack the report and highlight some key findings - as well as provide commentary and insight ourselves. KEY TAKEAWAYS The CIPD report seeks t...

Oct 02, 202349 minSeason 2Ep. 19

The Current State of Podcasts With Shannon Martin

Since Shannon first appeared on the podcast in 2021, podcasting has grown exponentially into a mainstream channel for organisations and individuals. However, despite this growth, it is still a marginal tool in corporate learning and not fully embraced for its potential to make culture accessible and make exclusive conversations open for employees to hear. In this episode we address some of the challenges organisations face - and overcome - to make podcasting work for them. KEY TAKEAWAYS There ar...

Sep 18, 202338 minSeason 2Ep. 18

Aviva’s Response to Developing Digital Skills with Sarah Allen & Molly Howes

As organisations face disruption from digital advancements, a parallel skills shortage is being experienced in the labour market. In the face of these two challenges, Learning & Development teams are seeking ways to make a predictable and reliable impact on developing their people. In this episode, we explore what Aviva is doing to upskill and re-skill in digital skills to ensure the company thrives in the future. KEY TAKEAWAYS All 22,000 colleagues at Aviva have access to learning, so they ...

Sep 04, 202336 minSeason 2Ep. 17

Measuring Business Impact Of Learning With Bonnie Beresford

Business impact is an elusive goal for Learning & Development, but it needn’t be. In this episode, as part of a series on achieving measurable impact, Bonnie Beresford unpacks what we should mean by business impact and how we make it attainable as well as planned and measurable. KEY TAKEAWAYS Learning must be aligned with business goals. Effectively measuring learning effectiveness based on business impact drives change and increases profitability. Without measurement you cannot improve the ...

Aug 21, 202342 minSeason 2Ep. 16

Measuring Behaviour Change with Laura Paramoure

If L&D can’t influence or change behaviour, then we need to ask ourselves “What are we for?” Similarly, if we can’t measure whether behaviour change has occurred then our position should be precarious. In this episode, Laura Paramoure tackles this topic head-on to make it measuring behaviour change accessible and attainable. KEY TAKEAWAYS Giving knowledge to an employee doesn't make any difference unless they apply it in their job. Learning courses are instruments for change. The established...

Aug 07, 202346 minSeason 2Ep. 15

How To Plan For Impact In The Beginning So It's Easier To Measure In The End With Kevin M Yates

We kick off our mini-series on Measuring Impact with Kevin answering questions about how we plan to make a measurable difference rather than leaving it to chance or trying to retrospectively seek value once we’ve delivered an agreed - if not largely hopeful - solution. KEY TAKEAWAYS Start with the end in mind. Intentionally align to the performance requirements that help organisations achieve goals, Don´t measure too many things. One person in the team needs to be assigned to focus on measuring ...

Jul 24, 202353 minSeason 2Ep. 14

How Has L&D Leadership Changed? With John Tomlinson

We’ve both been in Learning & Development (or Training, as it was known) since the 1990s. It seems that so much has changed and yet so much remains the same. I.e., Classroom training was the primary means of development, tech was emerging but seen as supplementary (and perhaps inferior), and we struggled to demonstrate our value beyond attendance and satisfaction. And yet the nature of work has evolved, technology has advanced enormously, employee expectations have shifted, and work patterns...

Jul 10, 202351 minSeason 2Ep. 13

Lively & Disagreeable

Have you ever wanted to hear learning experts with different views explore ways in which they disagree? Respectfully, of course. Well, this is our opportunity to listen in on a couple of L&D titans as they debate. Enjoy Guy Wallace and Nick Shackleton-Jones as they discuss and debate the differences in their opinions and approaches in response to questions posed by Gabrielle Bayme and moderated by David James. KEY TAKEAWAYS L&D can´t be all fun and games. It also needs a challenge. Chang...

Jun 26, 202359 minSeason 2Ep. 12

Performance-Oriented L&D at Pret a Manger With Lila Warren

What does a pivot to performance-oriented L&D look like in a fast-paced high street environment? In this episode, Lila Warren, Global Head of Retail Academy at Pret a Manger, shares her motivations and approaches to affecting performance with learning solutions designed to make a meaningful impact. KEY TAKEAWAYS L&D should be seen as the experts, somewhere people automatically turn to solve problems. Be relentless about understanding the problem you are solving. If people have not actual...

Jun 12, 202339 minSeason 2Ep. 11

Measuring Impact With Bonnie Beresford, Laura Paramoure, and Kevin M. Yates

Measuring impact is notoriously difficult but without it, our profession cannot progress, and we won’t fulfil our potential. There is a huge role for Learning & Development in the upskilling and reskilling efforts required to plug the skills gap, but we won’t do that without holding ourselves accountable for actual impact. In this episode - and first in a mini-series on L&D impact - our panel explores what this means and the practical steps it will take us to make a planned and meaningfu...

May 29, 202354 minSeason 2Ep. 10

After The L&D Handbook With Michelle Parry-Slater

In 2021, Michelle published her book, The L&D Handbook, aimed at providing practical steps and tools for L&D professionals wanting to move away from traditional classroom teaching but not sure where to start. Since then, the need for this pivot has only increased. In this episode, we explore what L&D can do to make a greater impact in what is likely to be a tough time for all. KEY TAKEAWAYS The handbook provides a framework for L&D professionals to dip in and out of. Live online ...

May 15, 202335 minSeason 2Ep. 9

Supporting Executive Transitions With Navid Nazemian

Would it surprise you to learn that 40% of executive transitions fail during the first 18 months? These can work out to be expensive failures. So, what can L&D do to ensure a more successful transition? In this episode, Navid Nazemian, author of Masting Executive Transitions shares insights and practical steps that organisations can take. KEY TAKEAWAYS The ripple effect means that every executive transition failure costs about 10 to 30 times their salary. Most executives get no extra support...

May 01, 202347 minSeason 2Ep. 8

The Potential of Generative AI for L&D With Donald Clark

So far, it seems 2023 has been the year of Chat GPT but what does it mean for L&D? Should you be using it now? Should your learning tech provider be incorporating it into their platform? Does this mean that the robots are coming for our jobs? This episode offers an intriguing glimpse into the future of corporate learning and the transformative potential of generative AI. KEY TAKEAWAYS Generative AI is here to stay. Seek out those who are using it and learn from them. Play with ChatGPT, take ...

Apr 17, 20231 hr 9 minSeason 2Ep. 7

Addressing The Skills Conundrum At Ericsson With Peter Sheppard

Organisations are facing a skills crisis, and some are more aware than others. But these organisations will find themselves let down by their L&D departments if the market-driven myths around skills development are believed. As Peter Sheppard and David James discuss in this episode, skills can only be developed if they are understood in the context in which they are to be employed. There are no silver-bullet solutions that enable companies to avoid this. KEY TAKEAWAYS Companies and individua...

Apr 03, 202343 minSeason 2Ep. 6

Pivot To Performance Panel Discussion

In the final episode of this series, we welcome back Mirjam Neelen, Carl Binder, Teemu Lilja, Fredrik Peterson Herfindal, and Judith Hale to answer your questions. KEY TAKEAWAYS Being agile means we have to provide personal/career development and performance improvement. The two are closely connected, doing well in your job leads to career development. The opportunity for people to learn is all around them, we need to tap into the fact their peers and supervisors have a lot of knowledge to impar...

Mar 21, 202355 minSeason 2Ep. 5

Performance Improvement Expert With Judith Hale

In this episode, Judith Hale, Performance Improvement expert, and thought leader will be sharing her experience and approach to working with stakeholders and clients to make a real impact on performance and results. KEY TAKEAWAYS Building a strong relationship with stakeholders is essential. How to do that is covered in-depth during the episode. Why work to solve a symptom when you can solve the underlying problem? Your analysis needs to start at the first point of contact, not once the contract...

Mar 07, 202353 minSeason 2Ep. 4

Performance-Oriented Approach With Teemu Lilja & Fredrik Peterson Herfindal

In this episode, Teemu Lilja and Fredrik Peterson Herfindal speak about their pivot to a performance-oriented approach at their organisation, the Swedish company Telia, and how this has led to both incredible business impact and recognition by their colleagues and the industry. Theirs is an inspiring story that started by listening to podcast conversations just like this... KEY TAKEAWAYS You have to measure the impact training is having on the company to demonstrate that it has positive business...

Feb 21, 202358 minSeason 2Ep. 3

Pivot To Performance With Carl Binder

In this episode, Carl Binder talks about Pivot to Performance, and his methodology, and brings this to life with real-life examples. Carl is CEO of The Performance Thinking Network, helping organisations accelerate results through the performance of their people. A widely published author, keynote speaker, and consultant, Carl began as a Ph.D. student with B.F. Skinner at Harvard, and has spent over 40 years bringing behaviour science into practical, down-to-earth application. KEY TAKEAWAYS You ...

Feb 07, 202352 minSeason 2Ep. 2

Pivot to Performance With Mirjam Neelen

Welcome to series 2 of L&D’s Pivot to Performance and the first of 5 conversations. As with series 1, Guy Wallace and David James are speaking with esteemed guests about their own pivot from ‘Learning-focused’ practice towards a ‘performance orientation’ that more predictably and reliably, let alone efficiently and successfully, achieves demonstrable results for both employees and organisations. In this episode, Mirjam Neelen talks about her pivot to performance, her approach to analysis, de...

Jan 24, 202350 minSeason 2Ep. 1

Doing More With Less With David James Interviewed By Adam Harwood

With global economic uncertainty and hardship, organisations are likely to be making tough decisions in 2023, and if Learning & Development departments are going to survive and succeed, they are likely to be challenged to achieve more with fewer resources. In this episode, David explores his experience of leading L&D at Disney during the post-2008 banking crisis and shares lessons on how he rose to the challenge of achieving more with less. KEY TAKEAWAYS Whenever there is a recession, it...

Jan 10, 202339 minEp. 108

The Problem With Off The Shelf L&D With Stewart Everson

The market for off-the-shelf content and programmes for the L&D profession is huge. This is despite it equating to next to no demonstrable return on investment. It’s seductive to think we can plug in a ready-made ‘solution’ but what does it really solve? And is our dependency on it going to be our downfall? KEY TAKEAWAYS The purpose of L&D has to be to make it easier for people to do their jobs. Anything that does not contribute to this is usually just a tick-box exercise. What is provid...

Dec 13, 202235 minEp. 107

Great Minds On Learning With John Helmer

John Helmer is the host of two outstanding Learning & Development podcasts: The Learning Hack and Great Minds On Learning. In this episode, John condenses his insights and learning from the conversations he’s led with Donald Clark about the people and approaches that have informed so much of the L&D profession. KEY TAKEAWAYS Experts tend to forget the gaps they had in their knowledge when they knew less, so tend to skip over things. It’s a form of educated incapacity. A surprising amount...

Nov 29, 202243 minEp. 106